Jared Leto: “I’ve Got a Skirt On Right Now.”

Jared Leto, lead singer for 30 Seconds to Mars, or as I prefer to remember him, Jordan Catalano on My So-Called Life, recently sat with Details magazine to dish on his desires to remain irresponsible, refrain from being tied down, and other general ambitions in life.  The interview is pretty interesting, but I’m more captivated by the photo.  Regardless of whether or not you think he’s a cheesy cornball with anime tendencies and a flair for the whiny, you can’t deny … this is one beautiful man.

Q: In concert you wear eyeliner, crazy hairstyles, elaborate outfits. Do you regard it as another acting gig?

A: No, no, no. As a musician, it’s about revealing more of who you really are. I’m not handed a script with dialogue; there’s no cinematographer or editor. I’m not so interested in creating a persona. There have been shows where I’ve been very plain and shows where I’ve worn a dress. I’ve got a skirt on right now. I was in Japan and all the busboys were wearing them.

Q: You’ve gone out in public in drag.

A: I walked down Madison Avenue in a spaghetti-strap tank top and black-fringe wig, and I thought that I would pass with flying colors, but I didn’t. My shoulders were too big. My jaw was too big. I was just trying to disappear. It wasn’t like I was getting in touch with my inner transvestite, which I’m sure is inside of us all somewhere.

Q: You turn 39 this month. Any plans to settle down?

A: I don’t really believe in settling down. That term implies that the current path I’m on isn’t valid. It’s not always about living your life the way people have lived before you.

Q: As Jordan Catalano on My So-Called Life, you became an iconic nineties crush for sensitive, smart alterna-girls. Was there a downside?

A: I didn’t notice that stuff. I was just grateful to have the work. It was a very short period of time in my life. It was 17 episodes, and I barely spoke!

Q: You’re known as a ladies’ man. What’s the quickest you’ve ever gone from saying hello to someone to being in bed with them?

A: Well, you know, I’ve lived a life. I’ve certainly had my experiences out there, but I wouldn’t be so much of a gentleman if I talked about them. I would furthermore say, if you hope to have any respect at all, you probably shouldn’t talk about them.

Q: Was it hard to gain 67 pounds for the Mark David Chapman part?

A: People ask if that was fun, but there wasn’t any pleasure—it wasn’t that sort of eating. I was force-feeding myself, overeating, melting Häagen-Dazs and mixing it with olive oil and soy sauce and drinking that. One or two of those before bed seemed to help. And there was a lot happening on the inside. That was one part of an experience in exploring the darker recesses of humanity. I would never do that again.

Deep.

You know, I’m aware that he’s getting all sorts of fame and popularity with 30 Seconds to Mars these days, but you know what I really wish?  That he’d go back to the big screen, full throttle. Leto’s got some serious acting chops. I mean, don’t any of you remember Urban Legend?